To Review Student Data Regarding Clerkship Experience With Change in Curriculum Design

BACKGROUND: The Ob/Gyn clerkship transitioned from a 6-week discipline specific clinical experience to an integrated 15-week surgery and reproduction curriculum. Student perception of clerkship quality across the curriculum is assessed at the end of the 3rd year and in the graduation questionnaire. METHODS: Year-end curriculum surveys, NBME Ob/Gyn shelf exam scores and AAMC graduation questionnaire results for students graduating 2012–2016 were examined. End-of-year NBME Ob/Gyn shelf scores were compared by year of graduation. Analysis of variance was used to compare scores in the traditional design (students graduated 2012–2015) and Integrated design (students graduated 2016). RESULTS: End-of-year clinical curriculum survey response rates ranged between 43.7% and 86.3%. There was a significant increase in response rates in the 2016 class (86.3%). During this period, 211, 209, 217, 242 and 180 students completed the NBME Ob/Gyn shelf exam. The mean clerkship rating increased significantly from 2012 to 2015 (P<.05). There was a decline in the clerkship rating in 2016 (3.85) but it remained higher than in 2012 (3.74). GQ survey results remained above the national mean for the same duration. There was no difference in the mean NBME subject score during this period (P=.525). DISCUSSION: Transition from a traditional 6-week Ob/Gyn curriculum to an integrated longitudinal curriculum with surgery resulted improving student evaluation scores and similar NBME performance.